Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is likely to be sidelined for a month
with a groin injury.

The influential defender limped off during the second half of City's victory over Newcastle in their opening Premier League game of the season on Monday.

The 27-year-old will miss City's next two matches against Cardiff and Hull as well as potentially the games with Stoke and rivals Manchester United. He is likely to be unavailable for Belgium's World Cup qualifiers in September.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: "I prefer the doctor to say the last word, but I think [he will be out for] at least one month. The doctor can give more information."

Kompany's absence leaves Pellegrini hoping fellow central defender Matija Nastasic, who suffered an ankle injury last month, will be fit to return at Cardiff. Nastasic was expected to miss the first month of the season but returned to training this week.

"We will see," Pellegrini said. "Nastasic is working normally with the squad and we will see if he starts."

Kompany was sorely missed last season when a two-month lay-off with a calf injury badly damaged City's title hopes.

With Kolo Touré having joined Liverpool in the summer, City's other options in his absence are limited, especially if Nastasic is not fit. Micah Richards is also injured. Midfielder Javi García was deployed alongside Joleon Lescott in a makeshift back line in the closing stages on Monday.

Another midfielder, Gareth Barry, could also be deployed there while youngster Dedryck Boyata, who has had loan spells at Bolton and FC Twente in the past two seasons, might hope for a chance.

The situation will add to speculation that City could move into the transfer market before the Sept 2 deadline. They have been linked with Real Madrid's Pepe and Atletico Madrid's Martin Demichelis this summer.

Pellegrini, who worked with Demichelis at Malaga, has not ruled out further additions but is giving little clue as to who he might like. The Chilean said: "It is not dependent on what happens with Vincent Kompany. I told you last week that, until the last day, we will see what we can do but we have a very good squad so we will see what happens."

The injuries have given Lescott a chance to re-establish himself after falling down the pecking order under Roberto Mancini last season. The England international is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and his long-term future is unclear.